Arsenal’s Ramsdale Targets England Number One Spot

Aaron Ramsdale. (Reuters)
Aaron Ramsdale. (Reuters)
TT

Arsenal’s Ramsdale Targets England Number One Spot

Aaron Ramsdale. (Reuters)
Aaron Ramsdale. (Reuters)

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale said he has the self-belief to become England’s first-choice goalkeeper, though he first has to find a way to break into the team.

Ramsdale, who has yet to win a full international cap but has been called up for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary, joining Arsenal from Sheffield United in August and has gone on to replace Bernd Leno as their number one.

The 23-year-old has conceded one goal in his four top-flight appearances for the club and he said he has all the tools to win, and keep, the England gloves.

“I have the self-belief that, yes, I could hold down the position (of England number one),” said Ramsdale, who is likely to be Jordan Pickford’s back-up for Saturday’s trip to Andorra and their home game against Hungary on Oct. 12.

“First and foremost, I have to get in the team and that’s one of my goals at the moment. I’m just trying to learn and take it step by step but over time that’s one of my aspirations,” he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Ramsdale was named in England’s Euro 2020 squad to replace the injured Dean Henderson but did not feature in the tournament in which they finished runners-up to Italy.



Tsitsipas Hoping to ‘Reinvent’ Himself in Search for Stability

This handout photo released by Tennis Australia on December 27, 2024, shows Greece's team member Stefanos Tsitsipas attending a press conference at the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth. (Tennis Australia / AFP)
This handout photo released by Tennis Australia on December 27, 2024, shows Greece's team member Stefanos Tsitsipas attending a press conference at the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth. (Tennis Australia / AFP)
TT

Tsitsipas Hoping to ‘Reinvent’ Himself in Search for Stability

This handout photo released by Tennis Australia on December 27, 2024, shows Greece's team member Stefanos Tsitsipas attending a press conference at the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth. (Tennis Australia / AFP)
This handout photo released by Tennis Australia on December 27, 2024, shows Greece's team member Stefanos Tsitsipas attending a press conference at the United Cup tennis tournament in Perth. (Tennis Australia / AFP)

Two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas said on Friday he needs to break out of a rut and start afresh in 2025 after winning just one title in the previous campaign and dropping out of the world's top 10.

The Greek world number 11, who claimed his only win at the Monte Carlo Masters, has also ended his collaboration with his father Apostolos as his coach.

"I'm looking at kind of reinventing myself," said Tsitsipas, who begins his season at the Dec. 27-Jan. 5 United Cup mixed team event.

"I felt like I've been stuck in a pattern over the last few months. I haven't been able to kind of unlock the pattern.

"I'm looking for a fresh, new 2025. That doesn't mean to suddenly just start winning everything.

"It's just to see a trajectory of constant improvement and improving in all fields in my career, but also in my outside life ... I want to have stability in my life," he told reporters.

Tsitsipas is starting the year outside the top 10 for the first time since 2019 and he hoped that would take some of the pressure off him.

"I don't think there's that much pressure when you're outside of the top 10. Well, probably there is some pressure in terms of like now it's my opportunity to add on points and get some good weeks going," he said.

The United Cup will serve as part of Tsitsipas' preparations for the Australian Open, where the 26-year-old reached the final in 2023.